Helena is part of my childhood memories. Those memories that persist fresh in my heart. She was a lady who loved wearing colourful outfits and makeup, and she had always caught my attention on Saturday mornings when I accompanied a friend to her aunt's house in a countryside town.

Helena meant colour, joy and authenticity to the child in me. She was the most vibrant shades of blue, green and pink eye shadows. She was summer throughout the year.

Helena meant a subject to talk about to some adults. She received criticism for her fashion style, but there was not even one occasion that I spotted Helena without her vibrant colours. She never stopped being congruent with her desires despite all the external pressures.

I was too young to understand any psychological impact these people's disapproval had on her. But she knew how to walk away with mastery, wearing radiant clothes and makeup.

Helena returned to my memory last year when I wanted to implement more energetic colour hues to my paintings and received some pieces of advice recommending not to alter my colour palette because the English market would not consume it.

I kept thinking about the advice above and decided to paint Helena to rupture my fear and reunite with my inner voice. I wanted to be in harmony with me and celebrate the fierce Helena was.

Helena means self-love and self-knowledge to the adult in me. She is the most lively colour I want to paint. Helena freed me from my trepidation.